Cybersecurity is a fascinating industry which needs to inspire the next generation to embark on fulfilling careers. With a male majority in the workforce, there is still a way to go to diversify people in the sector from different backgrounds.
The support for this aim has been led by tech giant IBM to encourage skills and development which builds the future digital economic growth, whilst the government is equally resourceful on how it plans to safeguard online services.
IBM has partnered with the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, and the National Cyber Security Centre to provide the online platform for the CyberFirst Girls competition, open to girls between the ages of 12 and 13 in the UK.
The cybersecurity programme is available for schools nationwide to allow students to participate in a series of cyber challenges from cryptography to artificial intelligence, which is affecting the world around them everyday.
Some of the challenges of diversifying the sector were restated by Shruti Kulkarni, Information Security Architect, at Elexon who participated in our Transformative Women interviews.
Women currently account for just 17% of the cybersecurity workforce and it is partly the responsibility of the sector to offer a balanced and interesting environment, and individuals themselves.
Minister for Cyber Security Feryal Clark recently spoke out on the “need to build a diverse workforce which is reflective of every community in the country” to tackle online threats.
